Statement by Ms. Li Xiaomei of the Chinese Delegation on Crime Prevention and Drug Control (Items 108 and 109) at the Third Committee of the 68th General Assembly

2013/10/10

Mr. Chairman,

The Chinese delegation wishes to thank the Executive Director of UNODC for his introductory statement. We have taken note of the reports submitted by the Secretary General under the relevant items. Transnational crime constitutes a daunting challenge to the international community. Such activities as manufacturing and trafficking of drugs, human trafficking, money laundering, terrorism and cyber attacks are not only becoming more extensive, but are also intertwined, posing a serious threat to social stability and economic development and impeding the achievement of the MDGs. China believes that greater international cooperation is needed in combating transnational crimes and in drug control. The relevant UN agencies and organs should continue to play a coordinating and facilitating role in such cooperation. China would like to make the following observations:

First, strengthen the implementation of the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Convention against Corruption. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the coming into force of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention against Corruption. The two conventions have been instrumental in guiding international cooperation in combating transnational organized crime and corruption. It is our view that to improve the implementation of the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, a review mechanism should be based on the principles of sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs, and financed by the UN regular budget, so as to ensure its effectiveness and to win a wide support. We hope that the upcoming fifth Conference of State Parties to the Convention against Corruption will give fresh impetus to the implementation of the Convention and the international cooperation in this regard.

Third, complete expeditiously the international legal framework for combating cybercrime and trafficking in cultural property. With the increasing manifestation of the damaging effect of cybercrime, strong international cooperation is needed to effectively respond to this new global challenge. China supports the “Open-ended UN Intergovernmental Expert Group to Conduct a Comprehensive Study of the Problem of Cybercrime” in building on its previous study and discussions and putting forth useful recommendations for a global legal framework for international cooperation against cybercrime. On combating trafficking in cultural property, China calls on states parties to the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime to work on the basis of the Convention to formulate at an early date guidelines for crime prevention and criminal justice responding to trafficking in cultural property.

Mr. Chairman,

China has made relentless efforts to combat crime and corruption. This year alone, China formulated and started the implementation of the Action Plan against Human Trafficking 2013-2020 and the 2013-2017 Work Plan for Establishing a Sound System for Punishing and Preventing Corruption. Those two documents have set the path for our future endeavor to prevent and combat human trafficking and to improve our system for punishing and preventing corruption.

China pays great attention to and takes an active part in international cooperation in the field of drug control. We have worked for years to assist countries in the Mekong sub-region to curb illicit poppy cultivation and opioid trafficking. China is committed to tackling new challenges such as new psychoactive substances and drug trafficking via internet, and is willing to strengthen information sharing and law enforcement cooperation with UNODC, the International Narcotics Control Board and other member states. China will continue to work within multilateral frameworks including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Paris Pact Initiative, and to engage in bilateral cooperation with other countries with a view to making greater contributions to the global efforts in tackling the world drug problem.